CWI Dental Assisting Supports Community Service Program

Friday, October 4, 2013 - 11:30am

On Friday, Sept. 27, CWI Dental Assisting students and alumni volunteered their time to help treat patients who are economically disadvantaged and without health insurance as part of the Dental MASH Unit. Over 70 patients received fillings, extractions, and periodontal treatment throughout the course of the event, diverting those patients from emergency care.

The event, which is an outreach initiative of the Garden City Community Clinic (GCCC), is hosted through collaboration with the Idaho State Dental Association, Carrington College, and United Way of Treasure Valley. Dental companies donated supplies and equipment, while dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants provided the dental services. Current students of the CWI Dental Assisting program prepared instruments for procedures in central sterilization, while graduates of the program assisted chair-side.

“I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this volunteer opportunity,” said CWI student, Jessica Guy. “I was able to practice sterilization and infection control while networking with other members of Idaho’s dental community. I would be honored to participate in other volunteer opportunities.”

“Volunteering at the Dental MASH showed me how vital and important the dental assistant is to the dental team,” adds student, Vanessa Vejar.

Program Chair, Elaine Laursen, said she hopes to continue to engage students in events like the Dental MASH Unit as they enhance the student’s education and provide them an idea of what they will be doing when they graduate.

The College of Western Idaho is a public, open-access, and comprehensive community college committed to providing affordable access to quality teaching and learning opportunities to the residents of its service area in western Idaho. CWI has seven campus locations throughout Southwest Idaho providing higher education and 21st Century technical skills acquisition. The college is dedicated to improving the community’s economic well-being by responding with highly-educated and productive graduates. The foundation for the area’s only community college was created by a supermajority of voters in Ada and Canyon counties on May 22, 2007. For more information about the college, visit www.cwidaho.cc or call (208) 562-3000.